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Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

Scottish Topper Travellers at Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club

by Colin S Hunter & Nicky Gray Stephens 21 Jul 2009 08:30 BST 18-19 July 2009

On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July, Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club hosted Round 6 of the 2009 Scottish Topper Traveller dinghy racing series.

Competitors, whose ages ranged from 10 to 15 years, travelled from as far away as Dumfries & Galloway and Glencoe to race in challenging conditions between East Loch Tarbert and Portavadie.

With Saturday’s wind speeds gusting 28 knots, and with the wind on Sunday forecast to exceed that, Graham Foster - visiting Principal Race Officer from Loch Tummel Sailing Club - opted to run four of the weekend’s six races on Day One.

As a result, Saturday late afternoon saw a tired but exhilarated fleet return to shore to be greeted with a well-earned dinner, featuring locally-caught seafood and the local butcher’s premium grade beefburgers at the hosts’ Pier Road clubhouse.

Owing to the sociable nature of the Topper Traveller circuit in Scotland, the visitors were able to share a pleasant evening with their friends from the Tarbert club.

Overnight leader in the more experienced Main Fleet was 14 year old Angus Gray-Stephens, who sails with Tarbert Loch Fyne YC and also Mid-Argyll Sailing Club. Tarbert’s own Niall Morrison, with three wins, led the Development Fleet overnight.

Sunday morning turned out sunny, with the breeze less fierce than predicted. These conditions made for a more inclusive day’s racing, creating opportunities for the younger or less experienced sailors to improve their placings.

Eventually, the battle for overall top spot came down to the last race of the weekend, and, after three laps of close racing, Jamie Noyes of East Lothian Yacht Club pipped Angus Gray-Stephens to the post to win the Tarbert Topper Traveller Trophy. Third place in the Main Fleet went to Alexander “Chucky” Still of Royal Gourock Yacht Club.

The Bellanoch Trophy, for the best-placed Tarbert junior sailor went to Niall Morrison, who also took first place in the Development Fleet.

Thanks to the enthusiasm with which visiting parents, members of Mid-Argyll Sailing Club, and local businesses gave their time and effort to help the club members ensure that the event ran smoothly, the weekend was a great success.

Overall Results:

Main Fleet

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st45003Jamie NoyesELYC22231-510
2nd46060Angus Gray-StephensTLFYC41125-613
3rd43581Chucky StillRGYC5331-9719
4th46640Jessica CampbellAnnandale SC-75444320
5th45419Kyle Maxwell-CoxLargs SC64-763423
6th45742Jordan BlackLoch Earn SC86-17510130
7th45625Samm FosterLoch Tummel SC3858-14933
8th46575Joanna BarrieAnnandale SC-117897839
9th45747Patrick ShellcockLoch Tummel SC9106-1281144
10th45631Rory KilgoreCove SC/Helensburgh SC1(DNF)DNS712245
11th44578Jennifer AbrahamHelensburgh SC10-16101121245
12th41189Alastair KentLargs SC14(DNF)121061052
13th42056Rosalind DunlopLargs SC12911(DNC)111457
14th45409Kae ClarkHelensburgh SC-1712917171570
15th44404Andrew CrocketLoch Lomond SC16-171414131370
16th43842Dean MalcolmLargs SC-19131313161772
17th46611Iain McLaughlanLargs SC1311(DNS)DNC151678
18th45189Joanne FosterLoch Tummel SC20141515-221882
19th9087Jack AitkenRNYC15151616-212183
20th44145Ruaridh MillsGlencoe BC/Loch Tummel SC-21181818182092
21st14575David AbrahamHelensburgh SC22(DNC)DNCDNC1919106
22nd46172Lewis MarrLargs SC18(DNF)DNCDNC20DNF107

Development Fleet

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st36521Niall MorrisonTLFYC111(DNC)2DNF10
2nd45515Ryan McIntyreGlencoe BC/Loch Tummel SC2(DNF)DNSDNS1114
3rd36760Seumas MorrisonTLFYC3(DNF)DNSDNS3DNF21
4th45006Nathan BarkerTLFYC(DNF)DNFDNSDNSDNCDNC25

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